He said: "He has been in a long-term position of great vulnerability and risk and as a result has been in a long-term position of witness protection whereby his current appearance and location are not known."

The tot's DNA was found on her dad Paul's genitals, but a bungling police investigation failed to place him under arrest for nine months and evidence including bedding and Poppi's last nappy were lost.

Background to death of 13-month-old girl Poppi Worthington at family home in Barrow-in-Furness in 2012

Today's CPS decision left Poppi's mother, who cannot be named, in a "complete nightmare" that the full truth will never be revealed.

Lawyer Fiona McGhie said on her behalf: "The latest inquest into Poppi’s death was the third time a court has found, on the balance of probabilities, that Poppi was sexually assaulted prior to death and Poppi’s mother is extremely disappointed that this is not enough for the CPS to undertake a further review of the case.

"She was also left disappointed that Poppi’s father chose to rely on his right not to answer many questions which may incriminate him at the inquest and while she understands he was entitled to do this, she considers that the coroner’s inquiry was frustrated by this.

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"The past five years have been a complete nightmare for her.

"Although she is now closer to the devastating truth, it is likely that she may never get full closure on exactly what happened that night."

John Woodcock MP said: "This fresh knockback was expected but it stings because it is a fresh reminder of the terrible failings in the police investigation that have made a criminal conviction so difficult.

"The re-referral to the CPS after the second inquest was necessary but this conclusion always felt inevitable given how much evidence was lost or not collected by the police after Poppi died."

Father of Poppi Worthington broke down when asked if he'd sexually abused her in new inquest into death of his 13-month-old baby daughter

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